Household Health Costs: Direct, Indirect and Intangible

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at identifying components of the household health costs. METHODS: This study was a qualitative research conducted in two main phases. The first phase consisted of interviews with sample households selected in eight provinces of Iran. They were to identify components of the household health costs. In the second phase, components were determined as direct, indirect and intangible based on a content analysis. RESULTS: In the first phase of the study, 93 components of households’ health costs were identified. According to the content analysis, 44 components were categorized as direct costs, 10 components were indirect and 39 components were categorized as intangible. CONCLUSION: All components of households’ health costs including: direct, indirect and intangible costs, should be considered in the planning and policy-making in the health system.